Faster city rail run revealed
THE Gold Coast will have more express rail services and fewer stops to Brisbane under a new blueprint released by the state government.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey on Tuesday released details that showed how the opening of Cross River Rail in 2025 would overhaul the Coast trip.
The new map does not feature 10 stops from Beenleigh to Altandi stations and another 10 from Boggo Road to the city, on the current Coast-to-Brisbane line. The existing service does operate an express run from Beenleigh to the city, but Cross River Rail opens up more quick trips.
A transport source said: “The mapping shows you will have from Boggo Road, just Woolloongabba to Albert Street (stations). You have a direct route (to the city from the Gold Coast) with less stops.”
The existing Coast rail line closing in on the Brisbane CBD has stops at Park Road, South Bank, South Brisbane and Roma Street, where commuters walk blocks to work.
Mr Bailey (inset) told an estimates hearing in state parliament that the underground station at Albert Street next to the Queen St Mall would improve access to the city.
“It will be the most popular station straight up,” he said. “A lot of people will get out to their place of work in a block or two.”
Under questioning from the government, Mr Bailey said the $5.4bn Cross River Rail project was “on time and on budget”.
Tracks were being put down between Albert St and Woolloongabba stations.
The opposition accused Mr Bailey of being a “runaway train” in terms of “budget blow-outs”.
While not providing specific time details, Labor says the Cross River Rail and the $2.6bn Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail Project, in which tracks and stations will be upgraded between Kuraby and Beenleigh, will reduce the trip from Coast stations.
Mr Bailey told the Bulletin: “In 2025, the first underground rail system in the state’s history will be built paving the way for faster, more frequent services, but we aren’t just building Cross River Rail, we’re building a brand new network.
“This network will be a change for Queenslanders, but it will open the door for future investment and timesaving timetable changes to help Queenslanders get home sooner and safer.”
The new plan would open up new public transport opportunities for many residents and visitors to South East Queensland by establishing a new “three-sector network”.
Sector 1 will create a northsouth spine connecting the northern and southern regions through the Cross River Rail tunnel from Varsity Lakes and Beenleigh run to Redcliffe Peninsula and Nambour.
All trains will run through Roma St either through the existing station or the new below ground Cross River Rail station.
“This will be a big change for some customers, but presents many opportunities, especially when considering the sheer level of investment and good jobs that will be supported,” Mr Bailey said.